Copy-holder.



PATBNTED MAR. 10, 1903.

H. L. MASSEY. COPY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

llrrn rricn.

COPY-'HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,239, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed January 28 1902. Serial No. 90,887. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY LAURENS MAS- sEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Memphis, Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Copy-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in copy-holders, and has for its object the provision of an inexpensive device which will accommodate manuscript or other copy of any width or bulk, will permit the ready feeding of the copy as it is transcribed, and will hold the copy in such a position that it may be easily and conveniently read by the typewriter copyist.

With these ends to be attained my invention consists in certain novel features of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings just mentioned, Figure l is a perspective view of a copy holder constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the upper end of one of the standards with the copy-holding rollers in position and a part broken away.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a note-book in position in the copy-holder in full lines, and in dotted lines have indicated a strip of stenographic-machine note-paper.

In carrying out my invention I employ two standards or supportinguprights A A, the lower ends of which are formed into comparatively large bases or supporting-feet B and are provided with lateral wings or enlargements G, in which thumb-screws D are mounted. The thumb-screws may be turned up against the sides of the frame of a typewriting machine, so that the device will project upward in rear of the machine in plain view of the operator. The bases 13 present a firm support for the device, so that when it has been placed in position it will not be easily displaced through accidental causes. The standards are connected and braced at the proper distance apart by a screen-plate E and by transverse rods or bars F G. The rod F is extended between the upper ends of the standards, While the rod G is arranged a short distance below the rod F, and the screenplate extends downward from a point near the rod G to any desired point of the standards. In practice the screen-plate should extend to a point below the top of the frame of the type-writing machine, so as to deflect the paper fed from the machine, and thereby prevent interference of the same with the copy. In the upper ends of the standards I form slots H, and in the bases or lower ends of the slots I provide sockets I, in which are seated pins J, having enlarged heads K at their upper ends, and around these pins are coiled springs L, bearing at their opposite ends against the said heads and the lower ends of the slots. Resting on and supported by the heads of the pins is a lower holdingroller M, which coacts with an upper holdingroller N to firmly grip the copy, the said roller N being'journaled in stationary bearings in the standards and provided at one or both ends with a knob O, by means of which it may be rotated in the operation of the device.

On the lower edge of the screen-plate is an arm or bracket P, which is adapted to receive and hold a roll of paper containing stenographic-machine notes and is provided with a retaining-lip Q at its end to prevent the roll slipping laterally therefrom.

The manipulation of the copy-holder will be readily understood. If the copy is on long loose sheets, the sheets are passed upward behind the screen-p1ate and the rod G and then in front of the lower roller and inserted between the rollers, the matter to be copied appearing above the edge of the screen-plate. As the work of copying progresses the upper roller is rotated, and its frictional contact with the manuscript and the lower roller causes the copy to be fed through between the rollers. My device, however, is found especially advantageous when the copy is in bulky manuscript, such as a note-book. In this instance the lower roller is depressed against the tension of the springs L, so as to permit the insertion of the end or back of the book or bulk of manuscript between the rollers. After the copy is inserted between the rollers the springs are permitted to raise the lower roller, so as to firmly grip the copy, and the book or paper sheets are passed downward behind the rod G and the screen-plate, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As each page of the copy is transcribed its lower edge is inserted upward behind the upper rod F and a slight pull exerted on the said page, so as to draw the book backward and bring the upper edge of the following page into view, the copied page being held up out of the way by the upper -rod F, as shown. It will thus be seen that the rods F and G and the screen-plate not only serve as braces and connections between the standards, but also serve as retaining devices to hold the copy in such a position that it can be easily read. The screen-plate also covers a portion of the copy, and the rod G constitutes a line-guide, so that skipping of copy is prevented.

Stenographic-machine notes are written on long narrow strips, which are rolled as they emerge from the machine. As only one word is written on a line, it is necessary for the operator when transcribing such notes to have a considerable portion of the copy exposed to view, and it is therefore carried upward in front of the screen-plate to the rollers after being slipped onto the arm or bracket 1?, as will be readily understood on reference to the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

My copy-holder is of a simple and inexpensive construction, is strong and durable, and is easily manipulated. The lower holdingroller being supported on springs, bulky manuscripts or note-books of any thickness may be placed in the device and will be firmly held, and the socketsin the standards efiectually prevent displacement and loss of the pins and springs supporting the roller.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a copy-holder, the combination with the standards, of the copy-gripping rollers mounted in and extending between the standards, and non-rotatable retaining-rods secured in the standards above and below the rollers in proximity thereto and parallel therewith.

2. A copy -holder comprising a pair of standards provided at their lower ends with integral enlarged bases, gripping rollers mounted in the upper ends of the standards, and non-rotatable retaining-rods between the standards above and below the rollers and adjacent thereto.

3. In a copy-holder, the combination of standards or supports provided with longitudinal slots and with sockets extending below the lower ends of the slots, pins engaging said sockets and means for yieldingly urging them upward, a lower holding-roller having its ends or journals supported by said pins, an upper roller and a pair of retaining-rods between the standards arranged above and below the rollers and in proximity thereto.

4. In a copy-holder, the combination of the standards, a pair of gripping-rollers mounted in said standards, the lower roller being adjustable to the thickness of the copy, retaining-rods extending between the standards HENRY LAURENS MASSEY.

Witnesses:

G. T. FITZHUGH, G. F. HAVELL. 

